Hackney Speedway

File:Hackney Greyhound Stadium January 1979.png

A turbulent 1935 season for Lea Bridge and Walthamstow Wolves resulted in the relocation of the speedway into Hackney Stadium, with the team riding as the Hackney Wick Wolves.Jacobs, Norman (2001). Speedway in London. Stroud: Tempus Publishing {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}} The track measuring 310 metres, was granted a licence by the Speedway Control Board.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19350202/260/0027 |title=New speedway track |website=Daily Mirror |date=2 February 1935 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}

The first meeting was held on 26 April 1935, although the first official meeting was a week later on 3 May, when Hackney lost to the New Cross Lambs in the National League.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1935record.pdf |title=1935 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=28 September 2024}} Australian Dicky Case starred for the team that finished 5th in the league.{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-35.htm |title=Speedway Teams UK 1935-1939 |website=Cyber Motorcycle |access-date=28 September 2024}} The following season was overshadowed by the death of Hackney rider Dusty Haigh on 15 May 1936, he died from a broken skull in a crash at the track after falling whilst in the lead and being struck by another rider's machine.Fenn, C.(2003). Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2737-7}}{{cite news |title=20,000 see Speedway Gladiator Killed|work=Daily Mirror |date=16 May 1936 |access-date=22 August 2021 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19360516/004/0001| via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} Meanwhile, Dicky Case qualified for the first ever Speedway World Championship final at Wembley in 1936,Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}} but decided to retire at the end of the 1937 season.

Crowds were not large enough to support top level speedway so, in 1938, Hackney swapped licences with the Bristol Bulldogs and dropped down to the second tier. This meant the big name stars at the Wick went too. However, the Wolves won the 1938 Speedway National League Division Two that season,{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|page=129|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1929-1939|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=20 August 2021}} led by their number 1 rider Frank Hodgson who averaged 10.06.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=28 September 2024}} The speedway ceased during 1939 following the suspension of the league due to the outbreak of World War II.

File:Hawk leads Rebels pair.jpg

Hackney Stadium did not host speedway again until 1963 when the Hackney Hawks were formed{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=20 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Hackney.htm|title=Hackney Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=29 August 2021}} by promoters Mike Parker and Reg Fearman, the team joined the Provincial League{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19621107/215/0027 |title=Speedway at hackney Wick again |website=Daily Mirror |date=7 November 1962 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}Rogers, Martin (1963) "Hackney Hawks Here to Stay?", Speedway Star, 1 June 1963, p. 16 and finished 10th in their debut season in the 1963 Provincial Speedway League.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=29 August 2021}} The promotion was then sold to rider/promoter Len Silver who was the club's promoter for the next twenty seasons.Fenn, C.(2003). Hackney Speedway, Friday at Eight. {{ISBN|0-7524-2737-7}} The riders and track staff marched onto the track to the sound of the theme tune of the film The Magnificent Seven and that tune inspires more memories for Hackney Hawks fans than anything else. The Hawks were closely linked with sister track the Rayleigh Rockets and latterly the Rye House Rockets.Jacobs, Norman (2001). Speedway in London. {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}} The Hawks finished runner-up to Newcastle Diamonds in 1964 before becoming founder members of the new British League in 1965.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990|title=British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=29 August 2021}} Swede Bengt Jansson was brought into the club and together with Colin Pratt they nearly won the 1968 league title, only losing out on points difference to Coventry Bees.

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In 1971, Hackney won their first major honour when they beat Cradley Heath Heathens to win the British League Knockout Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19350202/260/0027 |title=Cradley crash at Hackney |website=Wolverhampton Express and Star |date=9 October 1971 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}} The team also won the London Cup in 1971 {{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/hackney1971.pdf |title=Hackney 1971 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 September 2023}} and 1973.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/hackney1973.pdf |title=Hackney 1973 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 September 2023}}

The remainder of the decade was relatively average with a best finish of 7th in 1976. Riders leading the team during the period included Dag Lövaas, Dave Morton and Zenon Plech. The decade ended tragically after popular rider Vic Harding was killed on 8 June 1979, whilst racing for the team.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19790609/465/0018 |title=Vic Harding killed |website=Reading Evening Post |date=9 June 1979 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}} A Vic Harding Memorial Trophy meeting was held in his memory in the seasons following his death.

The team finished runner-up again during the 1980 British League season with Danish duo Bo Petersen and Finn Thomsen adding valuable support to Plech. At the completion of the 1983 British League season there was major disruption after Oxford Cheetahs bought Len Silver's division 1 licence.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003580/19831118/028/0028 |title=Goodbye Marvyn |website=Hoddesdon and Broxbourne Mercury |date=18 November 1983 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}} This led to the Crayford Kestrels promotion transferring their licence to race at Hackney because their home at Crayford & Bexleyheath Stadium had closed. The team became known as the Hackney Kestrels.Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. {{ISBN|0-7524-2210-3}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003223/19840209/251/0031 |title=West Row Opener |website=Newmarket Journal |date=9 February 1984 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 September 2024}}

During their first season as the Kestrels in the 1984 National League season and led by Barry Thomas and Trevor Banks, the team finished 4th and won the Knockout Cup (div 2).{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990|title=British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=29 August 2021}}

The Kestrels competed in the highest league for a one-off season in 1987 and signed Simon Wigg but dropped back down again in 1988. The decision proved to be wise as the Kestrels won the Division 2 League Championship,{{cite book |last=Bamford |first=Reg |title=Speedway Yearbook |year=2004 | publisher=Tempus Publishing, Stroud | isbn=978-0-7524-2955-7}} winning twenty-six of their thirty league matches and the Knockout Cup for the second time, beating the Wimbledon Dons on aggregate in the final. Young English riders Mark Loram, Andy Galvin and Chris Louis starred.Jacobs, N. Speedway in London. {{ISBN|0-7524-2221-9}}

A 5th-place finish in 1990 and a pairs success by Steve Schofield and Andy Galvin{{cite news |title=Potters pairs bid comes unstuck |work=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=18 June 1990 |access-date=26 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19900618/239/0026 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} was followed by the team reverting to the Hawks nickname for the 1991 season. Unfortunately promoter Derek Howes withdrew the team from the league mid-season, citing injuries and the recession.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=3 July 1991 |access-date=28 September 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005014/19910703/049/0049 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

Hackney Stadium underwent financial turmoil followed by significant development from 1991 to 1994, with a new £14 million scheme to develop the neglected stadium. The new stadium opened in October 1995 but went into receivership the same evening.{{cite web|url=https://betting.betfair.com/greyhound-racing/lost-tracks/bankrupt-on-the-first-night-th-311007.html|title=Bankrupt on the first night - the desperate story of the 'new' Hackney Wick|publisher=Betfair}}{{cite book|last=Fry|first=Paul|title=The Official NGRC Greyhound Racing Yearbook|pages =205–208|year=1995|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=186054-010-4}} Under the receivers a new speedway promotion arrived when Ivan Henry and Terry Russell moved their Arena Essex Hammers team to Hackney and rode as the London Lions. Team manager for that season was former Hackney rider Colin Pratt. The Lions finished the season in ninth place (out of nineteen),{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1991-present|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=2 September 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=2 September 2021}} At the end of the 1996 season, there was no stadium owner and speedway was never seen at the stadium again.

The Hackney Hawks name was revived again during the 2011 National League speedway season (third-tier league), as a joint promotion between the promotions at Lakeside and Rye House with the Hawks home matches being divided between the two parent tracks.{{cite web |url=https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/sport/22948020.hawks-move-four-points-clear-top-national-league/ |title=Hawks move four points clear at top of National League |website=Hackney Gazette |date=21 July 2011 |access-date=29 September 2024 }}

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{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• {{player||AUS|Leigh Adams}}
• {{player||ENG|Trevor Banks}}
• {{player||AUS|Dicky Case}}
• {{player||ENG|Andy Galvin}}
• {{player||ENG|Dusty Haigh}}
• {{player||DEN|Morian Hansen}}
• {{player||ENG|Vic Harding}}
• {{player||ENG|Frank Hodgson}}
• {{player||ENG|Norman Hunter}}
• {{player||ENG|Gerry Jackson}}
• {{player||SWE|Bengt Jansson}}
• {{player||ENG|Mark Loram}}
• {{player||ENG|Chris Louis}}
• {{player||NOR|Dag Lövaas}}
• {{player||ENG|Les McGillivray}}
• {{player||AUS|Garry Middleton}}
• {{player||USA|Cordy Milne}}
• {{player||ENG|Dave Morton}}
• {{player||DEN|Bo Petersen}}
• {{player||POL|Zenon Plech}}
• {{player||ENG|Colin Pratt}}
• {{player||ENG|Steve Schofield}}
• {{player||ENG|Len Silver}}
• {{player||ENG|Malcolm Simmons}}
• {{player||ENG|Barry Thomas}}
• {{player||DEN|Finn Thomsen}}
• {{player||ENG|Roy Trigg}}
• {{player||ENG|Simon Wigg}}

}}

{{Reflist}}

Category:Defunct speedway teams in the United Kingdom

Category:Sport in the London Borough of Hackney

Category:History of the London Borough of Hackney

Category:Sports venues completed in 1935

Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1935

Category:Speedway teams in London

Category:Hackney Wick

Category:Hackney, London

Category:Speedway National League teams

Category:Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1996